In this bulletin:
UN — War-driven energy price spikes highlight value of renewables: UN climate chief
2. COOKS — Cook Islands-New Zealand standoff ‘concerning but not beyond repair: Former PM Helen Clark
3. SOL — Solomon Islands’ defecting MPs say ‘not much trust’ in Jeremiah Manele’s government
4. FIJI — Fiji village moves to higher ground as climate threat forces relocation of homes
5. FIJI — Coral bleaching event detected across several Fiji reef systems
6. TUVALU — Equality for every island girl
7. TONGA — Queen Salote College marks historic 100 years of educating Tongan women
8. PACNEWS BIZ — Air Niugini set to return to New Zealand after nearly 30 years
9. PACNEWS BIZ — 24 derelict vessels cleared from Suva Harbour as Fiji moves to protect marine environment: PM Rabuka
10. PACNEWS BIZ — Political stability a key factor in economic growth: PNG PM
11. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — Scientists warn chemicals in plastic food packaging pose risks to human health
12. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — Energy Access and Affordability in Solomon Islands: How much power is enough?
13. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — Reimagining PNG’s education through culture
14. PACNEWS DIGEST — Scientists reveal valuable secrets of Pacific coral reefs
UN – IRAN/CRISIS/ENEWABLE ENERGY: UN NEWS CENTRE PACNEWS 3: Tue 17 Mar 2026
War-driven energy price spikes highlight value of renewables: UN climate chief
BRUSSELS, 17 MARCH 202(UN NEWS CENTRE) — The disruption of global energy supplies is being felt worldwide, the UN’s top climate change official warned on Monday, as conflict in the Middle East drives oil and gas prices sharply higher – echoing the market turmoil triggered by the war in Ukraine.
Speaking at the 2026 Green Growth Summit in Brussels, Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), said the volatility underscored the strategic value of renewable energy.
“Renewables turn the tables,” he said during a keynote address to the event, which brings together European climate and environment ministers alongside businesses, investors and other key stakeholders.
“Sunlight doesn’t depend on narrow and vulnerable shipping straits, wind blows without massive taxpayer-funded naval escorts [and] renewable energy allows countries to insulate themselves from global turmoil and to side-step might-is-right politics.”
Indeed, renewable energy also delivers on people’s top priorities across the continent: security, well-paid jobs, better health and relief from rising living costs, he added.
“Fossil fuel dependency is ripping away national security and sovereignty and replacing it with subservience and rising costs,” he said, adding that the reality is what most voters are demanding, climate action delivers at scale.
“Renewables and resilience keep bills down and create far more jobs,” he said.
“Cutting out fossil fuel pollution cleans our air, improving health and quality of life.”
“Some responses to the fossil fuel crisis, incredibly, argue for doubling down on the cause of the problem and slowing the shift to renewable energy even though it is clearly cheaper, safer, and faster to market,”
“This is completely delusional because history tells us, this fossil fuel crisis will happen again and again,” Steill said, adding that fossil fuel dependency means economies, household budgets and business bottom lines are “at the mercy of geopolitical shocks and price volatility in a chaotic world”.
His message to ministers meeting in Brussels was simple: Meek dependence on fossil fuel imports will leave Europe forever lurching from crisis to crisis, with households and industries literally paying the price.
The UNFCC chief noted the bloc is more reliant on fossil fuel imports than almost any other major economy, which cost the continent over €420 billion (US$276 billion) in 2024 alone.
Pointing out that in 2025, renewables overtook coal as the world’s top electricity source, and over US$2 trillion was invested in clean energy – double that of fossil fuels – he said, “the opportunities are immense.”
As a leader in climate action and ambition, Europe’s efforts, including its Emissions Trading Scheme, is driving investment and innovation, with the continent’s companies at the forefront of clean industries and growth.
That includes SSAB, Maersk and Holcim, which are leaders on green steel, shipping and cement, and Siemens, Schneider and IPS, which are pioneers in wind power, energy storage and electro-tech services.
“Europe can permanently seize the multi-trillion-euro goldmine of investment that’s just getting started by embracing green growth, drawing on your many strengths, [including] education, strong institutions, smart regulation, social justice and innovation and intellectual property, and by backing it up with plans and policies.”
Last century, when a continent reeling from war came together to build the foundations of integration, energy was top of the list because countries understood that secure and affordable supplies, achieved through cooperation, were the basis of peace and prosperity, he said.
“Today, these truths are more important than ever,” he said…. PACNEWS
COOKS – DIPLOMACY: COOK ISLANDS NEWS PACNEWS 3: Tue 17 Mar 2026
Cook Islands-New Zealand standoff ‘concerning but not beyond repair: Former PM Helen Clark
RAROTONGA, 17 MARCH 2026 (COOK ISLANDS NEWS) — The current diplomatic tension between the Cook Islands and Aotearoa is “concerning” but “not beyond repair”, former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark says.
Clark made this remark in response to a question raised at a recent fundraising dinner, which featured a moderated discussion hosted by the Cook Islands Breast Cancer Foundation in Rarotonga.
Diplomatic tensions between the Cook Islands and New Zealand began brewing in late 2024 and became public after the Cook Islands signed a comprehensive strategic partnership and other agreements with China in February last year.
New Zealand cited a lack of consultation regarding the deals with China and subsequently suspended NZ$29.8 million (US$17.44 million) in funding.
Cook Islands lawyer Brian Mason raised the issue of the Cook Islands’ agreement with China during the moderated discussion.
“In a podcast not that long ago, which covered a variety of matters, when you were asked about the agreements or memorandum of understanding that the Cook Islands government entered into with the People’s Republic of China, you indicated it was definitely out of line.
“As a former Prime Minister, what would you do to try and improve the relationship following that event, or was the die cast and the damage done?” Mason asked.
Clark responded that the situation was concerning but not beyond repair.
“The point I would make, firstly, I’m very sad to see this difference of opinion, because the Cooks are part of the New Zealand family,” she said.
“But the point I would make is that New Zealand would not sign the kind of agreement that the Cook Islands signed with China.
“And so, if it’s not the sort of agreement we would sign, then clearly it’s an agreement that is going to be of great concern to New Zealand.”
Clark pointed to one clause that particularly raised alarm in Wellington.
“There’s a clause that says the two countries, Cook Islands and China, undertake to support each other’s candidates in international organisational elections where they’re both members. We would never agree to that.
“But there’s a lot of other aspects to it too. So, it’s happened, and it needs to be sorted out through discussion.”
She suggested the dispute could eventually be resolved through dialogue, possibly by agreeing not to implement certain parts of the agreement.
However, she warned the disagreement is already having economic consequences.
“At the moment this is costing the Cook Islands big time, right, with something like $20 to $30 million (US$11.70 million – US$17.55 million) a year being held back,” she said. “That’s a lot of money.”
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Mark Brown is expected to travel to New Zealand next week – a major visit since the diplomatic fallout between the two nations.
The Office of the Prime Minister has neither confirmed nor denied whether a ministerial-level discussion with the New Zealand government is on the agenda.
Opposition leader Tina Browne, who is also the leader of the Democratic Party, has urged Brown to use the upcoming trip to “engage directly with New Zealand leaders” and resolve the diplomatic standoff between the two nations and resolve the suspension of about NZ$30 million (US$17.55 million) in funding…. PACNEWS
SOL – POLITICS: RNZ PACIFIC PACNEWS 3: Tue 17 Mar 2026
Solomon Islands’ defecting MPs say ‘not much trust’ in Jeremiah Manele’s government
HONIARA, 17 MARCH 2026 (RNZ PACIFIC) — Frederick Kologeto, the leader of the Peoples First Party (PFP) and one of ten Cabinet ministers to resign on Sunday night, says the opposition has the numbers to oust Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele.
Kologeto, who was the deputy prime minister in Manele’s coalition government, told RNZ Pacific “there’s not much trust within the government”.
He said every member of PFP were joining the opposition camp, and that they had the numbers to pass a motion of no confidence against Manele.
“There are issues between us and the coalition partners, and we don’t see any resolution to this, so we decided to move,” he said.
“There were a few issues between us, I think one is trust.”
In a 50 seat Parliament, the government now have 27 MPs compared to the opposition’s 23, according to the Political Parties Commission.
Supporting Manele’s OUR Party is the Kadere Party’s 3 MPs, having lost the PFP’s 12.
They are up against an opposition loosely led by Matthew Wale of the four-member Solomon Islands Democratic Party (SIDP), otherwise consisting of small parties and independents.
Though he wouldn’t reveal details, Kologeto claimed to have 28 MPs on side, and was expecting to file a motion of no confidence late Monday.
But Kologeto said he is open to a different pathway if Manele offers it.
“Of course, there are options there. We’ll leave it to the Prime Minister to decide.”
This is Manele’s third leadership threat, having survived a motion of no confidence in April 2025 after six Ministers and five government backbenchers walked away.
Other resignations included Finance Minister Harry Kuma and Justice Minister Clezy Rore, each former members of Manele’s OUR Party.
Manele’s office said it is too early to provide any outcome.
“At this stage, the Prime Minister is focused on ensuring that government operations and public services continue uninterrupted,” a spokesperson said.
“The Prime Minister has called on all public servants (through Secretary to Cabinet) to continue their important work while political leaders engage to resolve the current situation. The government will continue to keep the public informed as developments unfold.”
If Manele retains his hold on power and Kologeto beds down into the Opposition long term, Kologeto may pose a threat to Wale, whose SIDP is a third the size the PFP.
RNZ Pacific has approached the Opposition for comment…. PACNEWS
FIJI – RELOCATION/CLIMATE CHANGE: FIJI GOVT PACNEWS 3: Tue 17 Mar 2026
Fiji village moves to higher ground as climate threat forces relocation of homes
NAUSORI, 17 MARCH 2026 (FIJI GOVT) — Families in Vuniniudrovu village in Naitasiri Province on the main island of Viti Levu in Fiji are moving to safer ground following a groundbreaking ceremony Monday to begin relocating homes threatened by climate change.
The village is one of three communities in Fiji, alongside Macuata-i-Wai and Narata, receiving USD$100,000 each through the Community Climate Adaptation Facility (C-CAF), an initiative of the Global Centre for Climate Mobility supporting communities on the frontline of climate change.
Minister for Environment and Climate Change Lynda Tabuya said the relocation reflects the strong partnership between Government and the Vanua in protecting lives and livelihoods.
“Riverbank erosion and rising water levels have placed families at risk, but today we see a community coming together to secure a safer future,” she said.
Five homes currently located in a high-risk “red zone” will be relocated through the grant provided under the partnership between the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and the Global Centre for Climate Mobility.
Tabuya said the project demonstrates how collaboration between communities, Government and partners can strengthen resilience to climate change.
“This is what progress looks like when the Vanua and Government work hand in hand to protect our people and build safer villages,” she said…. PACNEWS
FIJI – CORAL BLEACHING: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS 3: Tue 17 Mar 2026
Coral bleaching event detected across several Fiji reef systems
SUVA, 17 MARCH 2026 (FIJI TIMES) — A coral bleaching event is currently affecting several reef systems across Fiji, according to marine conservation group Reef Explorer Fiji.
In a statement shared on social media, the organisation said its team recently returned from Northern Kadavu where they observed bleaching on both nearshore reefs and the outer barrier reef.
“Our team recently returned from Northern Kadavu where we found an ongoing coral bleaching event occurring on both nearshore reefs and the outer barrier reef,” Reef Explorer Fiji said.
The group said the event appears to be widespread, with reports of bleaching from Kadavu across the Coral Coast and into the Mamanuca and Yasawa island groups. Early signs of bleaching have also been reported around Savusavu.
“This coral bleaching event is currently affecting reef from Kadavu, across the Coral Coast, and into the Mamanucas and Yasawa group. We also have reports of bleaching beginning around Savusavu,” the statement said.
According to Reef Explorer Fiji, the bleaching is likely linked to unusually warm ocean temperatures in recent weeks.
“This bleaching event appears to have been driven by several pulses of warmer than normal seawater which pushed mean daily seawater temperatures to approach and exceed 30°C,” the group said.
While Tropical Cyclone Urmil briefly cooled ocean temperatures and provided some relief to corals, the organisation warned that conditions may worsen.
“Seawater temperatures are on their way back up and this week where we have low tides in the middle of the day will likely cause further damage to shallow reef areas,” the statement said.
Despite the damage, Reef Explorer Fiji said there are encouraging signs that some coral colonies are showing resilience to higher temperatures.
“What is reassuring to see is that there are some corals that are showing tolerance to the hotter ocean temperatures,” the group said.
These resilient corals could play an important role in future reef restoration efforts.
“These bleaching tolerant colonies can now easily be identified and are ideal for incorporation into coral gardening efforts aiming to help ‘future proof’ reef systems,” the organisation said…. PACNEWS
TUVALU – WOMEN: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS 3: Tue 17 Mar 2026
Equality for every island girl
SUVA/FUNAFUTI, 17 MARCH 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS) — For the women and girls of Tuvalu, justice isn’t just a legal concept; it is a lifeline.
At a recent United Nations meeting earlier this month, Dr Eselealofa Apinelu, Tuvalu’s High Commissioner to Fiji, spoke about the reality of life on a small island nation where isolation and the growing threat of climate change make the safety of women more urgent than ever.
“For Tuvalu, access to justice for women and girls is inseparable from our identity as a small island developing State, shaped by strong community values, geographic isolation, limited institutional capacity, and the growing impacts of climate change,’’ she said.
“Violence against women remains a serious challenge, with national data showing that around 44 percent of women in Tuvalu have experienced physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner.’’
Apinelu emphasised that justice in Tuvalu had long been rooted in community values such as equity, reconciliation, and care, while recognising the importance of strengthening formal legal systems to ensure women’s safety and rights.
“Access to justice must be equal, safe and effective, never conditional,’’ she said.
“Justice is not an abstract principle; it is a lifeline for women and girls, particularly for those living in vulnerable communities.”
Apinelu said the heart of Tuvalu’s strength lay in its people, especially older women, who served as the custodians of cultural knowledge and the backbone of their families. The government are also actively empowering older women and tackling violence against women and girls.
“The government has strengthened coordination among institutions through the Gender-Based Violence Task Force and recently launched the We Care Guidelines, an official framework designed to improve support for survivors,’’ she said.
Tuvalu’s participation at the global meeting reflects the country’s ongoing commitment to strengthening justice systems, protecting the rights of women and girls, and working with international partners to advance gender equality…. PACNEWS
TONGA – EDUCATION: PMN PACNEWS 3: Tue 17 Mar 2026
Queen Salote College marks historic 100 years of educating Tongan women
NUKU’ALOFA, 17 MARCH 2026 (PMN) — For 100 years, Queen Sālote College has helped shape the lives of Tongan women and last week, the nation celebrated that legacy.
Students, alumni, and families gathered in Nukuʻalofa to mark the centenary of Tonga’s only all-girls secondary school, reflecting on a century of learning, leadership, and sisterhood.
The milestone has also been recognised across the country. The Tongan government declared Thursday, 12 March 2026, a one-off public holiday so people could join in commemorating the school’s 100th year.
Named after Queen Sālote Tupou III, one of Tonga’s most respected monarchs and a strong champion of education and culture, the college has long been a place where young women are encouraged to lead and serve their communities.
Over the decades, its students have gone on to play key roles across Tonga and the wider Pacific: in government, churches, schools, and community organisations.
As part of the celebrations, alumni have been sharing memories of their time at the school, recalling friendships, traditions, and the values they carried with them into adult life.
Silvia Purdie, a former student, now a Presbyterian minister living in Upper Hutt, attended the college briefly in 1979 when her father was teaching in Tonga as a Methodist mission teacher.
Writing on Facebook, Purdie, then known as Silvia Crane, shared a light-hearted memory about preparing her school uniform.
“My poor mother didn’t own an iron, so she boiled my uniform with starch on Saturday and laid it under the kitchen mat,” she wrote. “By Monday morning, it was stiff as a board and stood up by itself.”
While she stood out as a foreign student, Purdie says she remembers being warmly welcomed. “I remember the dignity and pride in being girls and the strong women role models of the teachers.”
School life was also filled with music, dance, and celebration. “I made lots of money dancing at school functions, covered in coconut oil, flowers and cash, although it was probably mainly sympathy donations,” she joked.
‘Ahoika Misa, the school’s current head prefect, said the centenary year carries special meaning.
She told PMN Tonga’s John Pulu that she is the third generation on her mother’s side to attend the school, continuing a family connection that stretches back decades.
Misa said meeting with older alumni during the celebrations has been one of the most powerful moments of the centenary.
Some former students sharing their memories are now in their late 90s, with the oldest nearing 100.
Their stories, she said, show how deeply the college has shaped the lives of women across Tonga.
A century after its founding, Queen Salote College remains a symbol of pride, opportunity, and sisterhood, with its legacy carried by the generations of Tongan women who have walked through its gates…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
NZ/PNG – AIRLINE: STUFF NZ PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 17 Mar 2026
Air Niugini set to return to New Zealand after nearly 30 years
AUCKLAND/PORT MORESBY, 17 MARCH 2026 (STUFF NZ) — An airline that hasn’t flown regularly to New Zealand in nearly three decades looks set to return.
Air Niugini will operate direct flights between Auckland and the Papua New Guinea capital, Port Moresby, three times a week from June. It will be the first regular service between the two cities since 1998.
While a formal announcement hasn’t been made, the airline has teased its return on social media. Air Niugini will use its fleet of Boeing 737-800 aircraft for the flights.
Founded in 1973, the airline mainly flies domestic routes in PNG, but also services Australia, Fiji, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Singapore, and the Solomon Islands.
Last month, Air Niugini re-appointed Alan Milne as CEO. He previously held the role from 2018 to 2020.
The airline is looking to replace its Boeing 737 fleet with 11 Airbus A220s, although an order for two Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft has reportedly been cancelled.
Chairman Karl Yalo said the introduction of the A220s, and the retirement of older aircraft will be “one of the most significant transformations in the airline’s history.”
“This transition — from aircraft approaching four decades in service to a modern, efficient fleet — must be executed safely, responsibly, and with minimal disruption to the travelling public,” he said.
“The global aviation industry is changing rapidly, and Air Niugini will not be left behind.”
A formal announcement of the Auckland–Port Moresby service is expected soon…. PACNEWS
FIJI – DERELICT VESSELS: FIJI GOVT PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 17 Mar 2026
24 derelict vessels cleared from Suva Harbour as Fiji moves to protect marine environment: PM Rabuka
SUVA, 17 MARCH 2026 (FIJI GOVT) — The Fiji Government has noted good progress in the ongoing efforts to remove abandoned fishing vessels from Suva harbour, strengthening the protection of the marine environment while ensuring the safe and efficient operation of Fiji’s busiest port.
Fiji Ports Corporation Limited (FPCL), with the support of the Joint Maritime Environment Committee, has steadily reduced the number of derelict and abandoned fishing vessels within port limits.
As of February 2026, the official list of derelict vessels has been reduced to 20 vessels, a significant improvement from the 44 vessels recorded in 2024.
Throughout 2025, thirteen vessels were successfully removed from Suva Harbour, with the majority safely scuttled at approved coordinates provided by the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji.
Since January 2026, FPCL has removed an additional seven vessels. Six long line fishing vessels, Xinya 10, Xinya, Gui Yuan Yu 60002, Gui Yuan Yu 60003, Gui Yuan Yu 60005, and Gui Yuan Yu 60006, were restored to operational status and have since departed Suva Port limits. One vessel, Winstar, was safely scuttled at approved coordinates provided by MSAF.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka commended the agencies involved for their coordinated efforts in addressing what had become a growing environmental and navigational concern in Suva harbour.
“The removal of abandoned fishing vessels from Suva harbour is critical to protecting our marine environment, safeguarding maritime navigation, and maintaining the integrity of Fiji’s busiest port. It is equally important that we protect the well being and customary fishing rights of the iTaukei communities who are the traditional custodians of the iqoliqoli. I commend FPCL and all partners involved for their continued commitment to this important work. This progress reflects our government’s determination to ensure our harbours remain safe, clean and productive for our people and future generations,” Prime Minister said.
The Government also acknowledged the important partnership with the Waitt Foundation, which has provided valuable support toward the continued removal of high-risk derelict vessels.
Towards the end of January 2026, the funding assistance structure was updated, with the funding now being channelled directly through FPCL for contractor payments. FPCL has accepted this revised arrangement and is currently finalising onboarding processes, including compliance screening and application procedures.
FPCL management anticipates finalising the updated funding arrangement with the Waitt Foundation by April 2026, with the shared objective of having full operational removal activities in place by that time.
The Government of Fiji values this partnership with the Waitt Foundation and looks forward to strengthening collaboration to further advance maritime sustainability, environmental protection, and resilience across Fiji’s maritime domain…. PACNEWS
PNG – ECONOMY: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 17 Mar 2026
Political stability a key factor in economic growth: PNG PM
PORT MORESBY, 17 MARCH 2026 (THE NATIONAL) — Political stability has been the critical factor enabling the country to move towards a stronger and more prosperous economic future, says Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape.
He pointed to recent economic data showing that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was expected to exceed K130 billion (US$30 billion).
“Economic records indicate that between 1975 and 2002, PNG experienced very slow economic growth, averaging around 0.3 percent annually,” he said.
“During the first 27 years after independence, the country experienced frequent political changes, with six prime ministers and 13 different governments formed over the period.”
Marape said this period of instability had a direct impact on economic growth and national development.
“When Governments change too frequently, policies are interrupted, development plans are delayed, and investor confidence is weakened. Stability is essential for economic growth.”
Marape said economic data clearly demonstrated that PNG’s strongest economic expansion occurred during these past two decades of improved political stability.
“Our economy has grown significantly over the last 20 years, and the data confirms that stability in Government creates the environment needed for sustained development,” he said.
“The lesson for our nation is clear: when our leaders work together to maintain political stability, the economy grows and our people benefit.”
According to national economic estimates from the Department of Treasury and the National Statistical Office, GDP has now risen to more than K130 billion (US$30 billion), driven by growth in the resource and non-resource sectors.
Marape said the Government was determined to continue this positive trajectory and had set a long-term goal of expanding the economy to more than K200 billion (US$46 billion).
“Our vision is to grow PNG’s economy to beyond K200 billion (US$46 billion), while building a national budget exceeding K50 billion (US$11 billion),” he said.
“(It) will allow Government to invest more strongly in infrastructure, education, health services and economic empowerment for our people,” he said…. PACNEWS
Scientists warn chemicals in plastic food packaging pose risks to human health
By Sanjeshni Kumar
SUVA, 17 MARCH 2026 (PACNEWS/PASIFIKA ENVIRONEWS) — Scientists are warning that chemicals used in plastic food packaging may pose significant risks to human health, with thousands of substances linked to plastics potentially migrating into food and contributing to chronic diseases.
The concerns were raised during a recent seminar by researchers from the Food Packaging Forum, where Managing Director and Chief Scientific Officer Dr Jane Muncke and Senior Scientific Manager Dr Birgit Geueke presented research on chemicals in food packaging and their implications for human health and the environment.
Dr Muncke said the organisation conducts independent research and science communication on chemicals in food contact materials, with a focus on preventing chronic diseases linked to hazardous chemical exposure.
“Our goal really is to prevent chronic diseases, non-communicable diseases that are attributed to avoidable hazardous chemical exposures,” she said.
“These chemicals transfer out of food contact materials, out of food packaging into food, and there’s quite a lot of hazardous chemicals there.”
Plastics contain complex mixtures of chemicals derived largely from fossil carbon, including both intentionally added substances and “non-intentionally added substances” such as impurities and reaction byproducts formed during manufacturing.
“Chemically speaking, plastics are very complex mixtures of many different chemicals,” Dr Muncke said.
“Some of them are intentionally used, some of them are non-intentionally added substances, and a lot of the chemicals in plastic are actually unknown.”
Research by the Food Packaging Forum and other scientists has identified more than 16,000 chemicals associated with plastics, with around 4,200 known to have hazardous properties, including the ability to damage DNA, disrupt hormones or persist in the environment.
Dr Muncke said plastics production is expected to increase significantly in the coming decades as fossil fuel industries shift toward plastics manufacturing.
“Making plastic has become kind of the plan B for the use of fossil carbon,” she said.
Packaging remains the largest sector for plastic use globally, particularly in food products. Dr Muncke noted that plastics are often hidden within packaging materials such as beverage cartons or metal cans, where plastic layers come into direct contact with food.
She also highlighted environmental and health risks across the lifecycle of plastics, from production to disposal.
“Once the plastic is produced, there’s no great management option for how to deal with it,” she said. “Reducing production and consumption is obviously important.”
One major concern is the open burning of plastic waste, which releases highly toxic chemicals such as dioxins.
“If there’s one takeaway today, open burning is a severe problem, and it needs to be addressed. These chemicals are very toxic at very low levels and can remain in the environment for decades.”
She noted that open burning remains a challenge in many regions where waste management infrastructure is limited, including in some small island developing states.
Dr Muncke also stressed that food packaging is a major contributor to global plastic pollution, with most items collected during beach clean-ups linked to food packaging.
“There’s this convenience culture and fast-food culture, which really is a huge problem in terms of environmental pollution,” she said.
According to research cited during the seminar, 56 global companies are responsible for more than half of branded plastic pollution identified during international clean-up audits.
The scientists also highlighted the importance of international policy efforts such as the Global Plastics Treaty, currently being negotiated under the United Nations.
The treaty aims to establish a legally binding global agreement addressing plastic pollution across the entire lifecycle of plastics, from production and design to consumption, recycling and disposal.
Dr Muncke said the treaty is particularly important because plastic chemicals are not regulated consistently across countries and plastic pollution crosses national borders.
“Member countries of the United Nations said they want to negotiate a legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution in the marine environment.
“That also means looking at all the life stages of plastic and reducing the harm to human health.”
She also commended Fiji’s role in the negotiations, noting that the country has been advised by scientists through the Scientist Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty.
“I really want to thank the Government of Fiji for playing a leading role in this process and for demanding high ambition and basing their policy proposals on science,” she said.
Dr Geueke then presented findings from the Forum’s Food Contact Chemicals and Human Health Project, which compiles global evidence on chemicals used in food packaging.
She said scientists created the project because evidence on chemical use, migration into food, human exposure and health effects had previously been scattered across many studies.
“We knew there are many plastic chemicals, and that they migrate from packaging into food and are present in humans,” Dr Geueke said.
“We measure them in urine, in blood, in breast milk, in hair, in the placenta; everywhere.”
By analysing regulatory lists and scientific studies, researchers identified about 4,500 chemicals allowed for use in plastic food packaging. However, when they compared these lists with chemicals detected migrating into food, the overlap was far smaller than expected.
“We saw the overlap is pretty small,” she said.
“That really surprised us because we thought, where are all these chemicals coming from that are not regulated?”
Many of these substances are believed to be non-intentionally added chemicals formed during manufacturing or degradation processes.
The research also found that thousands of plastic chemicals have been detected in human samples, with studies linking exposure to metabolic diseases, endocrine disruption, reproductive effects and cancer.
“Cancer-causing chemicals are present in our packaging and in our bodies,” Dr Geueke said.
Scientists are also studying microplastics released from food packaging, with evidence suggesting that heat, ultraviolet light and mechanical stress, such as opening and closing bottle caps, can generate microscopic plastic particles.
Despite growing scientific evidence, Dr Muncke said current regulatory testing remains limited.
“The chemicals that are intentionally used to make plastic need to be tested toxicologically, but only if they are present at certain levels,” she said.
“And the testing focuses mainly on whether they damage DNA.”
She said this approach does not fully account for other ways chemicals may affect human health.
“Chemicals contribute to diabetes, cardiovascular disease, reproductive health problems, immune system impacts and brain health. Those are not being tested at all right now.”
The researchers stressed that addressing plastic pollution will require systemic change, including reducing plastic production, improving waste management and promoting safer materials.
Dr Muncke said solutions could include greater reliance on local food production and packaging systems using reusable or inert materials.
“Local food production and local food consumption can be part of the solution,” she said.
“Import foods in bulk and do the filling locally in Fiji, and you can create jobs while reducing single-use packaging.”
She added that tackling plastic pollution will require collaboration between scientists, policymakers and communities.
“We need system thinking to end plastic pollution. If we work together, we can find responses to tackle this big problem,” she said…. PACNEWS
Energy Access and Affordability in Solomon Islands: How much power is enough?
By Dr Raluca Eddon; Taehyun Ryu and Nick Turner
HONIARA/SUVA, 17 MARCH 2026 (UNDP) — On the island of Malaita, just a two-hour ferry ride across the Ironbottom Sound from the country’s capital, Honiara, energy access equates to opportunity. The opportunity to store vaccines safely at a health clinic, to install a water pump that can serve an entire village, to keep fish fresh for market, or simply to turn on a light that allows children to study after sunset.
This “ask” may seem modest, but it is no less urgent. And the people of Malaita are far from alone.
Survey data from across Solomon Islands shows that while electricity access in urban Honiara is close to universal, provinces such as Makira-Ulawa, Temotu and parts of Western Province still have roughly half or more of households without electricity. Energy access in Solomon Islands remains deeply shaped by geography, with outer island and rural communities facing the greatest constraints.
Figure 1: Urban Honiara is close to universal access, while Makira‑Ulawa, Temotu and some outer provinces have roughly half or more households are still without electricity, signaling clear geographic priorities for rural electrification.
Yet even where electricity is absent, priorities are clear.
A recent nationwide survey conducted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) found that respondents from Choiseul, Isabel, Makira-Ulawa, Temotu and Western Province, many with monthly energy affordability capped at SBD300 (US$36) or less, overwhelmingly ranked electricity as their highest priority. What they want is not comfort or consumer appliances, but electricity that supports essential community functions such as health care, water supply, education and livelihoods.
Women respondents placed relatively greater emphasis on street lighting and safety, underscoring how access to electricity also shapes mobility and protection from violence. Across income groups and provinces, however, the message was consistent: energy is first and foremost a foundation for community life.
If communities are clear about what they want from electricity, the more pressing question may be this: what can they afford?
More than a third of surveyed households reported having no electricity access at all. Access rises steadily with income, with the poorest households significantly less likely to be connected, clear evidence that energy poverty in Solomon Islands is closely tied to income poverty.
Among households that do have electricity, most indicated they could afford only SBD 100–300 per month (US$12–35), with more than 60 percent saying they could not pay more than SBD 300. Among unelectrified households, roughly two-thirds reported a willingness to pay within this same range for a new connection.
At current domestic tariffs, SBD 300 translates to approximately 18–53 kWh per month, enough for basic lighting and a few small devices, but not for more energy-intensive services such as refrigeration or water pumping. These figures point to a fundamental challenge. If a household’s entire monthly energy budget sits within such a narrow envelope, centralised grid systems or high upfront solar costs are unlikely to be viable without targeted support.
This challenge is compounded by the fact that Solomon Islands’ electricity tariffs are among the highest in the world, reflecting the high cost of diesel-based generation, fuel transport, and dispersed island geography. Affordability constraints are therefore not only a matter of income, but of structural energy costs.
Affordability pressures are not unique to Solomon Islands. Across the Pacific, similar realities are prompting a shift toward community-based energy models that prioritise shared infrastructure and productive use.
In Fiji, the Fiji Rural Electrification Fund (FREF) demonstrates how community-based renewable energy models can operate in practice, combining affordable tariffs with locally managed mini-grids to extend electricity to rural and maritime communities. Rather than treating households as passive consumers, such approaches centre on participation, long-term affordability, and the use of energy to strengthen health services, education, water access and livelihoods.
From a policy perspective, the implications are clear. Energy strategies need to move beyond individual household consumption and place greater emphasis on shared community systems. Mini-grids that power schools, clinics and small businesses together may deliver more impact than household-by-household connections alone.
Pay-as-you-go solar. Targeted subsidies. Blended finance that reduces upfront costs. Community-owned systems that spread costs across users. These approaches are already being tested across the region, but scaling them will require coordination, sustained investment, and strong partnerships.
Ultimately, the answers will not come from technology alone. They will come from listening to what communities say they need, what they can afford, and how they imagine electricity improving their daily lives.
Because the real question is not simply how to generate more power, but how to ensure that energy systems are built around the realities of people’s lives, rather than the other way around.
The challenge now is to turn community priorities into practical, affordable solutions, so that energy is not a privilege of geography or income, but a shared platform for opportunity…. PACNEWS
Dr Raluca Eddon is- Deputy Resident Representative with the UNDP Pacific Office based in Solomon Islands; Taehyun Ryu – Economist with the UNDP Pacific Office; and Nick Turner – Head of Policy, Innovation and Communications with the UNDP Pacific Office.
Reimagining PNG’s education through culture
By Mercy Masta, Jacqui Joseph and Adam Everill
PORT MORESBY, 17 MARCH 2026 (DEVPOLICY.ORG) — In Papua New Guinea, young people are coming of age amid rapid social change. Globalisation, digital media and shifting social norms are reshaping how youth understand relationships, gender roles, identity, communication and conflict. While these changes create opportunities, they also generate pressures, particularly as young people attempt to balance modern expectations with enduring obligations to family, clan and community.
Without guidance, contemporary influences can normalise harmful behaviours, including violence, disrespect and unequal relationships. In this context, the need for a youth-focused, culturally grounded curriculum is urgent. Young people require education that affirms their cultural identity while equipping them to navigate modern challenges. At a time of rapid transition, PNG faces a critical need to reconnect with its authentic identity — drawing on its cultural heritage to shape innovative, community-driven responses.
Rather than importing external frameworks wholesale, PNG’s response must reflect its relational worldview — one grounded in shared responsibility, interdependence and communal wellbeing. In his reflections on the Melanesian Way, Bernard Narokobi cautioned that turning away from ancestral traditions in favour of Western lifestyles risks obscuring the profound strengths inherent in PNG culture. It is at the intersection of tradition and innovation that meaningful direction for the next generation can emerge.
The Equal Playing Field (EPF) school curriculum addresses this need through Hausman na Hausmeri Story: A Rite of Passage Curriculum for PNG High Schools. Grounded in traditions of communal dialogue, the curriculum creates structured, gender-inclusive learning spaces that promote respect, equality and non-violence.
For over a decade, EPF has delivered respectful relationships education through sport and classroom programs, engaging students in discussions about consent, empathy, teamwork and boundaries. Evidence from participating schools shows improved interactions between boys and girls, increased student wellbeing and reductions in bullying and inappropriate behaviour.
Many Pacific nations are experiencing a significant “youth bulge”, making the life trajectories of young people critical to future social stability. PNG youth are not passive recipients of change; they are active agents navigating new opportunities and risks.
Initiatives such as military-style training programs and PNG’s entry into the Australian National Rugby League competition offer pathways for skill development and employment. However, without strong governance and alignment with social development priorities, such programmes may fail to deliver long-term benefits.
At the same time, much contemporary gender and violence-prevention programming in PNG is shaped by Western narratives that prioritise individual autonomy over collective responsibility. When applied uncritically, these approaches can clash with Pacific worldviews. Rapid urbanisation, technology access and global media exposure are already reshaping social norms, often without corresponding intergenerational dialogue. Many families still avoid conversations about consent, emotional boundaries, or gender expectations, leaving young people to rely on peers or online misinformation.
When rapid change intersects with frameworks that do not resonate locally, confusion, resistance and unintended harm can follow. Risks include the normalisation of violence, rigid gender expectations, breakdowns in communication and confusion around power and respect. A culturally relevant, youth-centred curriculum is therefore not optional — it is essential.
PNG possesses deeply rooted traditions that teach respect, communal responsibility and conflict resolution. Historically, men’s houses (hausman/hausboi) and women’s houses (hausmeri/hausgel) were spaces where elders mentored youth and community issues were discussed. Research across the Pacific highlights the protective power of such relational systems, noting that extended family responsibility and the brother-sister covenant function as strong safeguards against sexual violence.
These communal structures contrast with Western models that frame violence primarily as an individual rights issue.
Multigenerational households, strong church ties and kinship-based identities are not deficits — they are strengths. Revitalising culturally grounded spaces offers young people an anchor, reminding them that learning about relationships is part of their cultural inheritance.
Pacific youth have repeatedly demonstrated their capacity to lead transformative change, as seen in the successful climate justice advocacy before the International Court of Justice. EPF builds on this potential by centring participation, safety and cultural relevance.
In contrast to dominant gender narratives that frame “patriarchy” or “gender inequality” as the sole causes of violence, EPF adopts a socio-ecological approach. Zero-sum framings that position men as inherent perpetrators and women as perpetual victims risk alienating communities and undermining shared responsibility. Moreover, some empowerment narratives unintentionally devalue motherhood, caregiving and traditional feminine roles that hold deep respect in PNG society.
Equality need not imply sameness, nor empowerment the abandonment of cultural identity.
In a country carrying deep trauma from violence, division should not be our default strategy. Men, women, boys and girls all want peaceful relationships. This is a shared vision.
The EPF curriculum is designed around several core principles. It is culturally rooted, reflecting PNG’s languages, traditions and communal learning practices through gender-specific and mixed dialogue spaces. It is youth-focused and experiential, using role-play, storytelling and group discussion to help students internalise respect and empathy as lived behaviours. It is responsive to modern challenges, with sessions addressing peer pressure, social media, consent and non-violent conflict resolution. And it is developmentally scaffolded, with age-appropriate sessions that support identity formation and healthy relationship norms.
A defining feature is its mixed-gender sessions, which foster shared understanding, while gender-specific hausboi and hausgel sessions provide safe spaces for deeper reflection. This mirrors culturally grounded dialogue practices from across the Pacific.
As PNG navigates ongoing change, young people need more than imported models — they need culturally resonant tools that honour identity while preparing them for modern life. EPF’s Hausman na Hausmeri story curriculum offers continuity rather than rupture, grounding education in lived experience and collective values.
By rejecting deficit-based and divisive frameworks, the curriculum demonstrates that gender education in PNG need not become a new form of cultural colonialism. Instead, it can be a space of renewal — where ancestral values, equality and peace exist in dialogue. The Hausman na Hausmeri story affirms that meaningful social transformation in PNG is strongest when it grows from within, carrying tradition forward into a hopeful future for the nation……PACNEWS
Dr Mercy Masta supports Equal Playing Field in the development and delivery of the Hausman and Hausmeri Story Curriculum, which will be piloted in schools by 2026.
Mercy Masta is a Research Fellow in the Department of Pacific Affairs at the Australian National University.
Jacqui Joseph is the CEO and Co-Founder of Equal Playing Field. She is also the Deputy Chair for the NGO Council and the Founding Curator of Port Moresby Global Shapers Community.
Adam Everill is Co-Founder and Chair of Equal Playing Field and Member of the ECPAT International Membership Representative Committee. His career focus has been on the prevention of family and gender-based violence.
Middle East war’s ‘spiral of conflict’ drives mounting civilian toll
GENEVA, 17 MARCH 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE) — The widening war in the Middle East and its growing impact on civilians came under scrutiny at the UN in Geneva on Monday, as independent experts briefing the Human Rights Council warned of escalating violence following the onset of Israeli and US strikes on Iran and counter strikes by Tehran and allied groups.
The fighting – which has included Iranian drone and missile attacks on Gulf States and Israeli attacks on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon after the group launched assaults – is intensifying a regional “spiral of conflict” the council also heard.
“On 28 February, the U.S and Israel launched a devastating aerial campaign against Iran, ostensibly targeting military sites and nuclear facilities. In almost three weeks, these strikes have resulted in mounting reports of civilian casualties, including children,” said Sara Hossein, chair of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran.
Iranian people’s plight
Presenting the mission’s latest report, Hossein highlighted the situation of ordinary Iranians “caught between a large-scale military campaign by two countries, the US and Israel, and ongoing repression by their own Government in Iran”.
Residential areas, several oil depots and a desalination plant have been struck or destroyed, causing “severe harm” to civilians, she said.
The rights expert also cited an airstrike that destroyed a school in Minab in southern Iran on the first day of the war, killing more than 168 people – “the vast majority of them girl students, many as young as seven years old”.
She also voiced concern about “public statements from US officials suggesting that long-established rules of engagement do not apply in this conflict”.
Presenting the mission’s latest report to the Council, Hossein pointed to the ongoing plight of ordinary Iranian people, “caught between a large-scale military campaign by two countries, the U.S and Israel, and ongoing repression by their own government in Iran”.
Residential areas, multiple oil depots and a desalination plant have been “struck, damaged and destroyed”, causing “severe harm” to civilians, insisted the independent rights expert, who like all those appointed by the Council is not a UN staff member nor paid for her work.
U.S statements raise concern
The rights expert also noted how airstrikes had destroyed a school in Minab in southern Iran on the first day of the war, killing more than 168 people, “the vast majority of them being girl students, many as young as seven years old”, she said, while expressing concern at “public statements from U.S officials suggesting that long-established ‘rules of engagement’ do not apply in this conflict”.
In addition to the Minab school strike, 1,000 civilians had been reportedly killed “with hospitals and World Heritage sites destroyed”, maintained the Council’s Special Rapporteur on Iran, Mai Sato.
“Strikes on oil infrastructure have caused toxic environmental consequences…in a country that was already experiencing acute water shortages,” she continued.
Echoing widespread concerns about the deteriorating humanitarian crisis inside Iran since the outbreak of war, the Special Rapporteur noted that three million people are now displaced inside Iran, while “the reported absence of functional air raid sirens and bomb shelters in many urban areas” added to concerns about basic civilian protection during hostilities.
Iran says over 1,300 killed
Responding to the independent experts’ reports to the Council, the Iranian Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Ali Bahreini, said that more than 1,300 people had been killed and more than 7,000 people injured, including a six-month-old baby.
“The international community must not remain silent,” he insisted.
The war is now well into its third week, having spread to nearly a dozen nations across the already fragile Middle East region.
Bahrain condemns Iranian strikes
Speaking on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council and Jordan, Ambassador Abdullah Abdulatif Abdullah of Bahrain condemned strikes by Iran “against our countries, which have targeted civilians and critical infrastructure and civilian objects, endangering the lives of residents and the safety and security of the region.
The ambassador also reiterated that the Gulf council had welcomed the adoption of Security Council Resolution 2817 Condemning Iran’s attacks against its neighbours on 11 March, supported by 136 UN Member States.
“Our countries reject the content of the reports of Special Rapporteur and the Fact-Finding Mission, characterizing these attacks as retaliatory or reprisal attacks,” he said, insisting that “there’s no legal justification for such assaults and there is no way to legitimize those illegal acts” under international law.
Also addressing the Council, the Philippines echoed serious concerns by regional grouping ASEAN about the Middle East escalation.
“This spiral of armed conflict has already claimed many innocent lives, including those of children. This cannot and should not be normalized,” Member States heard…. PACNEWS
Scientists reveal valuable secrets of Pacific coral reefs
GALWAY, 17 MARCH 2026 (UNIVERSITY OF GALWAY) — An international consortium of scientists has uncovered new insights into coral ecosystems, revealing that different coral species host their own distinct communities of microbes.
The research, which involved a team at University of Galway, shows that coral reefs harbour diverse microbes and produce chemicals with promising potential for future application in medicine and biotechnology.
Coral reefs are often called the rainforests of the sea, supporting a third of all marine macroscopic organisms and operating as marine biodiversity hotspots with a wide range of ecosystem services such as ecotourism and nutrient cycling.
The scientific research has revealed that their true diversity lies in their microbiome – invisible to the naked eye.
With support from the Tara Pacific consortium, the international research team analysed microbiome samples collected from 99 different coral reefs across 32 islands throughout the Pacific Ocean. They reconstructed the genomes of 645 microbial species – more than 99% of which had never previously been genomically characterised. These microbes are highly specialised partners of their coral hosts, functioning as prolific producers of bioactive compounds.
The study revealed that these coral-associated bacteria contain a greater variety of biosynthetic gene clusters – the blueprints for natural products – than has so far been documented in the world’s ocean.
Dr Maggie Reddy, Ryan Institute, University of Galway, said: “When we compared our findings with microbes found on other reef species, it became clear how little we still know. Of more than 4,000 microbial species identified, only 10% have any genetic information available, and fewer than 1% of the species found only in the Tara Pacific samples have been studied at all. This shows a major gap in our understanding and underlines the need for much more biodiversity surveys, especially in under-studied regions.”
The research highlights a critical, often overlooked dimension of conservation: when coral reefs die, we don’t just lose the corals, sponges, seaweeds and fish; we lose a vast “molecular library” linked to the microbial life.
And it noted that biochemical characterisation of previously unknown enzymes and compounds suggests an immense, untapped potential for biotechnology and medicine.
Professor Olivier Thomas, Ryan Institute, University of Galway, said: “The biosynthetic potential of reef-building coral microbiomes rivalled or surpassed that of traditional natural product sources like sponges. Among the biosynthetically rich bacteria in the reef microbiome, we identified previously unknown microorganisms (e.g. Acidobacteriota) living with corals that produce new enzymes with exciting potential biotechnology uses.
“The research is a clear call to action to protect our coral reefs – not just because of their value as a unique ecosystem – but to preserve the unique chemical diversity poised to enable future scientific breakthroughs.”
The study involved researchers from the Marine Biodiversity Lab at the Ryan Institute at University of Galway, led by Dr Maggie Reddy and Professor Olivier Thomas, who are part of the Tara Pacific consortium, an international consortium of marine scientists addressing the challenges our oceans face due to climate change. They worked alongside scientists in ETH Zurich.
Dr Reddy and Professor Thomas will join an international team of scientists on the upcoming Tara Coral expedition this June in Papua New Guinea, funded by the Tara Foundation and associated public and private partners. During the voyage, they will collect additional marine samples from the region and investigate the factors that enable certain reef-building corals to be more resilient in the face of climate change.
The coral microbiome is a complex community of bacteria, archaea, fungi, viruses, and algae that live on and within coral tissues, acting as a crucial, functional unit known as the holobiont.
The microbiome samples studied in this research, published in Nature, were collected during the Tara Pacific expedition in 2016-2018. This work has mapped the microbial landscape of reef-building corals at an unprecedented scale in an ocean which is home to 40 percent of the world’s coral reefs…. PACNEWS